How much landlord insurance costs is decided by a short list of inputs, and a landlord who checks them before asking for a quote gets a usable answer the same day. No average is worth quoting, because the spread across the inputs is far wider than the spread between insurers.
Inputs you control
The sum insured, which should be the rebuild cost and not the market value. The sections you buy. The excess you accept. The unoccupancy allowance you choose. Security at the property. Whether you claim for small amounts. Each of these moves the premium and each is a decision rather than a fact about the property.
Inputs you do not
The postcode, the construction and age, the flood and subsidence history, and the type of tenant the property suits. These set the band the quote falls in. They are also the inputs a comparison form most often simplifies, which is why an online quote on an unusual property is frequently wrong in both directions.
The one input that is never worth adjusting
The sum insured. Reducing it to reduce the premium triggers averaging, which reduces every claim proportionally. It is the only lever in this list that makes the cover worse rather than smaller, and it is the one landlords reach for first.
Questions people ask about how much does landlord insurance cost
Is there an average price?
None worth quoting. The spread across property type, tenant type and postcode is far wider than the spread between insurers.
What reduces the premium safely?
A higher voluntary excess, better security, current safety certificates, and not claiming for small amounts.
Does the tenant type really matter?
It is one of the largest single inputs. Professional lets price best; students, benefit tenants, company lets and HMOs each cost more.